Future Society of Clones used for Spare Body Parts

Rating: 3/10 (13 January 2006)

This is one of the worst films I have seen lately. Its just the usual clichéd rubbish from Hollywood cashing in on the fear that human cloning will cause all sorts of unethical and immoral behaviour in the future. There are three main gripes I have with this film. The first is an absurd piece of escape-artistry on the behalf of the script writer to get himself out of a hole. At one point we discover that the companies investors are told that the clones are only grown as vegetables, and never achieve consciousness. However, for some "scientific" reason that they don't understand the clones have to reach consciousness and run around aimlessly for a while or the organs wont survive in their new hosts! What a load of crap, in fairness. Secondly, the use of product placement in this film was nothing short of shameless. I cannot abide having company logos (not even bloody products at times, just logos) emblazoned on my television when I'm supposed to be watching a movie!!! Companies such as Puma, Microsoft (MSN & X-Box), Tag-Heuer, Mack, Cadillac....etc. all had more significant roles in the film than Scarlett Johanssen, who was suppose to be a major character. At one point in the film McGregor and Johanssen are in a phone box talking behind an MSN logo on the glass, totally galling. This has to be the most extreme case of cheap subliminal advertising I have ever seen and I am sure has the opposite effect to that which was intended on most sane people. Thirdly, as a member of the scientific community (and particularly a geneticist) I find the pathetic megalomanic, misguided "mad-scientist" in this film quite sickening. How many times have we seen it before? How many times do we need to see it?
Basically I am saying, steer well clear of this movie and steer clear of any of Michael Bay's movies because they probably wont get any better.